Porta Bote Just Unveiled Its New Alpha 1 Series Folding Boat

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On the brink of Porta-Bote International's 40th anniversary the company launched its first new Porta-Bote in 20 years. The new Alpha hi-performance line takes technology of folding boats to a whole new level of excellence.

I am very proud of the first Porta-Bote that I developed 40 years ago, but I decided that it was time for a major redesign. The availability of new materials and customer feedback is what drove me to create my new Alpha 1 Series boat line. says Sandy Kaye

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Porta-Bote International celebrated its 40th anniversary with the launch of a new hi-performance folding boat. The Hi Tech ALPHA 1 Series has 41 major engineering advances. It even adds simple creature comforts like special beverage container holders that are molded into the sides of the seats.

The new, internationally patented series is available in 8'(2.85m), 10'(3.27m), 12'(3.85m) and 14'(4.28m). The boat color options are Pacific Pearl, Duck Hunter Green (Olive Drab) and Aluminum. The Porta-Bote hulls weighs an ultra-light 54 lbs. (24.5g), 67 lbs. (30kg), 77 lbs. (35kg) And 97 lbs. (44kg) respectively. The redesigned folding craft can be easily opened and ready for the water in just a few minutes. The craft also weighs half as much as comparable aluminum boats.

Heightened interest in the "portable folding boat concept" is the result of recent dramatic changes in the lifestyles of fishing and boating enthusiasts worldwide. The high cost of living has driven many boating enthusiasts to downsize their homes to condominiums, apartments and smaller homes. The smaller living spaces create a demand for boat owners to be able to store their boats in a smaller space. The Porta-Bote stows easily in this smaller environment. Boaters also do not need to store a trailer as they can "attach" their Porta-Botes on the side or on top of their vehicles. Owners of sailboats/cabin cruisers use the folding craft as "practical" ship to shore dinghies as they take up only 4" (11cm) of valuable deck space. An optional sail-kit is available on the Porta-Bote to transform it into a small sailboat. Porta-Bote, which is surfboard shaped when folded, fits neatly atop the smallest auto just like a surfboard or a pair of skis and ends the need for a boat trailer.

The new models, just as the previous Porta-Botes, meet Coast Guard maximum capacity requirements. All boats are NMMA and EU Certified. The co-polymer resin hull material is warranted by the manufacturer for 10 years and never needs painting. It also is unaffected by salt water damage. The performance hulls actually outperform similar sized aluminum craft and inflatables, and need only half the horsepower. A new, "Hi Tech deep keel-twin hydro-tunnel flexihull ® design" traps the bow wave and guides it under the boat which dramatically reduces drag and increases stability. The internationally patented fold-up "square back" and "folding transom” features offer a more aesthetically appealing "classic nautical design" in a folding boat configuration.

About Porta-Bote International:

For over 40 years Porta-Bote has produced folding, portable small boats with space age engineered resin hull and hinges. The resin is truly space age engineered, as it was first used by NASA. Porta-Bote holds hundreds of patents on the use of this resin in boating related products. Their quality control over every boat is at the highest level in their industry. In Japan a “drop test” is used to ensure quality. Porta-Bote passes drop-tests of 600 lbs. of weight and a 21 foot drop by the JCI (Japanese Coast Guard) every its been tested. Porta-Bote International's boats are NMMA Certified (National Marine Manufacturers Association) and EU Certified (European Union). Over 40 Years in Production and over 100,000 boats in use worldwide. For more information, call (650) 961-5334 or visit http://www.Porta-Bote.com